Samyukta Agama, Vol. 1

Quotes from Samyukta Agama, Vol. 1

Ānanda and the three kinds of scent

 

Thus have I heard, once, the Buddha was staying in Rājagaha on the mountain Isigili.

 At that time the Venerable Ananda was in silent seclusion, when this thought came to him: “Once the World-honored One spoke about three kinds of scent: The scents of roots, stalks and blossoms; and about how there are no better scents than these.

 However he said these three can only be sensed with the wind, and cannot be sensed against the wind.” Having had this thought, Ananda rose from his seat, went to the Buddha, and having paid homage at his feet stood to one side. He said to the Buddha: “World-honored One! Just now, while I was in silent seclusion, this thought came to me:

 ‘Once the World-honored One has spoken about three kinds of scent: The scents of roots, stalks and blossoms; and about how these are the best among all scents. However, he said, these could only be sensed with the wind and not against the wind.’ World-honored One, is there a scent that can be sensed both with and against the wind?” 

The Buddha said to Ananda: “There is, there is. In this world there is a good scent that can be sensed both with and against the wind. And what scent? If there is, in a village or town, a man or woman who practices restraint, does not kill, does not steal, does not engage in sexual misconduct, does not lie, and does not drink alcohol, then all devas and all those who have attained divine sight will praise this person. Thus, if in a town or village a man or a woman keeps the five precepts, the scent of the precepts is sensed with and against the wind.”

 

《別譯雜阿含經》卷1:

 

「尊者阿難處於閑靜,默自思惟:「世尊昔來說三種香,所謂根、莖、華香,一切諸香,不出此三。

然三種香,順風則聞,逆風不聞。」尊者阿難思惟是已,即從坐起,往至佛所,禮佛足畢,在一面立。白佛言:「世尊!我於向者,獨處閑靜,默自思惟:『世尊所說根、莖、華等三種之香,眾香中上。然其香氣,順風則聞,逆則不聞。』世尊!頗復有香,逆風順風皆能聞不?」

佛告阿難:「如是如是。世有好香,順逆皆聞。何者是耶?若聚落城邑,若男若女,修治不殺、不盜、不婬、不妄語、不飲酒,若諸天及得天眼者,盡皆稱嘆。彼城邑聚落,若男若女持五戒者,如是戒香,順逆皆聞。」